Full text of DOI:10.1177/000841740006700409

The experience of pet ownership as a meaningful occupation
JESSICA M. ALLEN • DIANE HAMMON KELLEGREW • DEBORAH JAFFE
Jessica M. Allen, M.A., OTR . is
an occupational therapist at
Northridge Hospital Medical
Center, 18300 Roscoe
Boulevard, Northridge,
California, 91328
Diane Hammon Kellegrew,
Ph.D., OTR, is an Assistant
Professor, Department of
Occupational Science and
Occupational Therapy,
University of Southern
California, Los Angeles,
California.
KEY WORDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Human activities and occupations
Human-pet bonding
E-mail:
allen_jessica@hotmail.com
Deborah Jaffe, M.A., OTR, is an
occupational therapists at
Special Services for
Groups/Occupational Therapy
Training Program, Los Angeles,
California.
ABSTRACT
RÉSUMÉ
This qualitative study examined the
Cette étude qualitative portait sur l’expérience quo-
tidienne vécue par sept hommes atteints du virus de
l’immuno-déficience humaine ou du syndrome
d’immuno-déficience acquise et étant propriétaires
d’un animal domestique. Des entrevues et des
observations sur le terrain ont été analysées à partir
d’une approche théorique à base empirique. Les
résultats indiquent que pour cette clientèle, l’expéri-
ence de posséder un animal domestique est à la fois
semblable à celle d’un propriétaire typique mais
qu’elle est également profondément marquée par la
maladie du propriétaire. Les résultats de cette étude
préliminaire indiquent que la possession d’un ani-
mal domestique peut être une occupation très val-
orisée pour certains, ce qui entraîne des con-
séquences pour l’intervention ergothérapique.
experience of pet ownership in the
everyday lives of seven men with
human immuno-deficiency virus or
acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Interviews and field observations were
analyzed using a grounded theory
approach. The findings demonstrate
that the experience of pet ownership is
both typical of any pet owner and yet
profoundly impacted by the illness of
the owners. The results of this prelimi-
nary study indicate pet ownership can
be a highly valued occupation for some,
and thus has implications for occupa-
tional therapy intervention.
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Allen et al.
.
..How exactly do Figaro and Jett enhance my life? Partly by
just expecting me to always be here.They know nothing of
AIDS or opportunistic infections.They don’t understand the
source of the fear, rage and upset that frequently threaten
to consume me.They demand no explanations.They simply
love me, and expect me to be here. And so, I am (Sugar,
ic illness. In addition, individuals with HIV or AIDS must come
to terms with the anxiety that may accompany the uncer-
tainty surrounding their death (Siebold, 1992; Gammage,
McMahon & Shanahan, 1976).
People who are homosexual, intravenous drug users,
blood transfusion recipients, and children born to HIV infect-
ed women are all associated with the HIV virus (Crandall &
Coleman, 1992; Cadwell, 1991; Leary & Schreindorfer, 1998).
Some of these individuals must cope with the social stigma
particular to this diagnosis.“…People are stigmatized to the
extent that they possess characteristics that lead others to
avoid, shun, reject, or ostracize them” (Leary & Schreindorfer,
1998, p.15).Leary and Schreindorfer introduce four criteria to
establish the level of acceptance or rejection of an individual.
The criteria are based on the extent that an individual (a)
threatens others’health and safety,(b) transgresses from soci-
etal norms and values, (c) does not contribute to society; or
(d) evokes negative responses such as depression, fear, and
discomfort. They propose that people who are homosexuals
or who use intravenous drugs meet all four of the above cri-
teria (Leary & Schreindorfer, 1998). Furthermore, although
those who are blood transfusion recipients and children born
to HIV infected women often are seen as victims, they are still
considered a threat to other ’s health,a burden on society,and
an emotional weight.The resulting stigmatization can lead to
anxiety, depression, and social isolation of individuals with
HIV and AIDS (Crandall & Coleman, 1992).
1
996).
Final lines from a short essay by Michael Sugar about his
cats.
This study examined the meaning of pet ownership for seven
men diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). For many,
both with and without disabilities, the routines, care, and
affection shared with a pet are an important component of
everyday life. Using a comprehansive occupational therapy
approach, pet ownership can be conceptualized as an occu-
pation as it “… refers to groups of activities and tasks of
everyday life,named organized and given value and meaning
by individuals and a culture” (Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists [CAOT], 1997, p. 34).
A central tenet of occupational therapy proposes that
the restoration and maintenance of health and well being
can occur through engagement in a occupations that are
meaningful (Yerxa,1993).The individual is viewed as an occu-
pational being, capable of creating patterns of culturally rele-
vant occupations that provide structure, promote skills, and
assert one ’s self-identity (Christiansen & Baum, 1997). An
occupation-based therapy approach would seek to:1) under-
stand the impact of illness on the lifestyle and occupational
patterns of an individual, and 2) discern the meaning and
value of the impacted occupation for the individual. Despite
a growing interest in the use of occupation-based therapy,
there are few studies that explore the meaning and impact of
various occupations on the daily lives of those with disabili-
ties (American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA),
Research examining pet ownership
There is a dearth of research on pet ownership with those
diagnosed with HIV or AIDS.However,research that examines
the relationship between pet ownership and health has pri-
marily focused on populations with chronic illnesses such as
persistent psychiatric problems, terminal cancer, and coro-
nary heart disease. In addition, studies have been conducted
with elderly pet owners who were experiencing changing
lifestyles, health problems or decreased independence in
daily activities (Netting,Wilson & New, 1987). Individuals with
HIV or AIDS may experience changes similar to these popula-
tions such as depression, anxiety, decreased endurance, and
other physical and psychosocial issues (Reed, 1991).
272
1
995).This preliminary qualitative study sought to add to the
body of knowledge by exploring pet ownership as an occu-
pation for individuals with HIV and AIDS.
Literature review - people with HIV/AIDS
It is estimated that by the end of 1998, over 33.4 million peo-
ple worldwide were living with HIV or AIDS (United Nation
AIDS & World Health Organization, 1999). The progression of
the disease has slowed, in part, due to combination drug
therapy introduced in 1996.For the first time since 1992,AIDS
is no longer the leading cause of death in people ages 25-44.
As a result, HIV or AIDS is now considered a chronic illness.
Decreases in functional abilities and fluctuations in physical
capacity are expected in this disease process (Reed, 1991).
Psychosocial concerns may include grief and depression
associated with the loss of ability that accompanies a chron-
Dembicki and Anderson (1996) investigated the hypoth-
esis that pet care by an older person leads to enhanced self-
care. One hundred and twenty seven seniors aged 60 and
older were observed, interviewed, and given questionnaires
over a four-month period.The results indicated some aspects
of pet care, such as routinized feeding and exercising, served
to schedule activities for the elderly person. These pet care
activities provided participants with consistency in daily rou-
tines and health promoting participation in activity. In other
studies, presence of pets was associated with increased con-
versation and social interaction among nursing homes resi-
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Allen et al.
dents (Netting et al., 1987; Boldt & Dellmann-Jenkins, 1992;
Hoffman, 1992) and companionship for the elderly patient.
that active engagement with the animals reduced the partic-
ipants’ anxiety and served as a social outlet. Interestingly, a
shift in the role of the participant was noted from that of a
patient to one of caregiver.
(Sable, 1995).
Friedmann, Katcher, Lynch, and Thomas (1980) exam-
ined the impact of pet ownership on the health of 29 women
and 67 men diagnosed with either myocardial infarction or
angina pectoris. Some were pet owners while others were
not.The participants were interviewed regarding pet owner-
ship, socio-economic status, social networks, geographic
mobility, and living situation. Hospital chart reviews were
used to obtain physiological data. The 92 surviving patients
were contacted one year after the initial interview and sur-
vival rates of pet owners and non-pet owners were com-
pared. A strong positive correlation between pet ownership
and survival rate of the study participants was reported. In
keeping with Dembicki and Anderson ’s (1996) study, pets
appeared to contribute to the structure of daily routines, as
well as increased physical and social activity levels.
Friedmann et al. (1980) commented:
These studies contribute to our understanding of the
ways in which pets can promote healthy activity patterns,
well being, and social engagement.However, all used primar-
ily quantitative methods of analysis, aggregating data across
subjects.This methodology does not allow for understanding
the nature of individual responses to pet ownership. In addi-
tion,no research was available that discussed the meaning of
the experience of pet ownership to the participants. The
researchers’ interest in this line of inquiry was due to the
importance of pet ownership in their own lives and interest
in the meaning pet ownership may hold for people with dis-
abilities.Some of the researchers were also involved with Pets
are Wonderful Support/Los Angeles (PAWS/LA), an organiza-
tion that assists individuals with AIDS and HIV in the care of
their pet. Through this experience it had become apparent
that the care of a pet could be a meaningful occupation for
individuals with this diagnosis. This small-scale study sought
to contribute to the field of knowledge by employing quali-
tative methodology that permits examination of the experi-
ence of pet ownership as it is individually expressed.
...pets do provide an important focus of pleasurable
daily activity for their owners.Feeding,toileting,walking,
talking to, and petting animals are important and regu-
lar daily events.Pets may serve as“clocks”by providing a
source of order and responsibility for people who are no
longer working or have no responsibility for scheduled
activity (p. 310).
Method
Thompson, Kennedy, and Igou (1983) examined the
impact of pets on people with persistent mental illness.
Twenty psychiatric patients were included in three one-hour
long pet therapy sessions for six consecutive weeks. These
sessions included hands-on pet care and group discussions
regarding the pets. The authors reported that these interac-
tions with the animals helped the individuals to develop
Participants
The inclusion criteria for participation in this study were peo-
ple who 1) have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS and 2) indepen-
dently care for a pet. Two initial participants were recruited
from a volunteer organization that assists individuals with
HIV or AIDS in the care of their pets. Five other participants
were gathered from the initial contacts using chain sampling
methodology where participants recommended others for
inclusion in the study (Lofland & Lofland, 1995). Seven adult
males, all diagnosed with HIV or AIDS participated in this
research. All independently cared for their pets at the time of
the study. Their ages ranged from 30 to 50 years. These par-
ticipants represented a variety of socio-economic, racial, and
cultural backgrounds, including four Caucasian men, two
Afro-American men, and one Hispanic man.The types of pets
they owned included a horse, a bird, frogs, turtles, cats, and
dogs.
273
‘healthier interpersonal relations ’. Unfortunately, they did not
provide specific measures for these relationships. Similarly,
another study that explored the impact of pet ownership on
depression and anxiety revealed that working women diag-
nosed with depression who had a deep attachment to their
pets had fewer depressive symptoms (Watson & Weinstein,
1
993). This research, however, also revealed that pets could
increase stress if the owners depended on their pets for the
majority of their emotional support.
Muschel (1984) studied the effects of pet contact with
2
0 patients with terminal cancer living in a nursing facility.
She investigated the reduction of anxiety and despair and
the development of well being through animal contact. The
study was conducted over a 10 week period and incorporat-
ed weekly one and one half hour sessions. Data were natu-
ralistic observation, questionnaire responses, and scores on a
Thematic Apperception Test, which included pictures of peo-
ple-animal contact. Interaction with cats and dogs was incor-
porated into the intervention. Participants sang, held,
watched, and played with the animals. Findings suggested
Data Collection
The research team consisted of seven graduate students and
a faculty advisor.Initially,a literature review was conducted to
develop an interview and observation guide designed to
gather information about the experience of pet ownership,
particularly for the HIV and AIDS population. The literature
search revealed three key issues that were used to define the
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ing stable. The seventh interview did not include a field
observation because it was conducted at the participant’s
place of employment at the interviewee ’s request. Despite
the fact that this interview was conducted without the pet,
the data were comparable to the other interviews. Field
notes were written during and after the observations.
Table 1
Open-ended Interview Guide
Routines:
1
2
3
4
.
.
.
.
On a typical day, what interactions do you have with
your pet?
How much of your daily routine is involved in caring
for your pet?
Have you made any plans if you are unable to care for
your pets?
If you’re away from home for an extended period of
time what provisions are made for your pet?
Data Analysis
The interview and field observation transcripts were exam-
ined by the research team members. Each researcher inde-
pendently reviewed the data and established themes which
they felt reflected the participants’ experience of pet owner-
ship. From these themes, emerging commonalties, called
units, were grouped together by the process of group con-
sensus. Lofland and Lofland (1995) define “unit” as, “a set of
tendencies one can see in fieldwork reports...” (p. 103). The
manually coded data units fell into eight different categories
including 1) daily routines, 2) responsibility, 3) communica-
tion, 4) social outlet, 5) love, 6) physical health, 7) mental
health, and 8) spirituality. Then, two of the team members
coded each piece of data independently into these eight
units.Inconsistencies in coding between the two team mem-
bers were discussed among the research team as a whole, in
order to assign an appropriate code. In addition, the coded
data units, aggregated across all participants, were analyzed
for patterns of relationships between the units. Using
grounded theory approach where no a-priori assumptions
are made (Polit & Hungler,1995),the coded units were exam-
ined for relationships between and within the data.
Grounded theory “…involves the generation of theory on
the basis of comparative analysis between or among groups
within a substantive area, using methods of field research for
data collection.”(Polit & Hungler, 1995, p. 519). For example, if
a participant reported his feelings towards his pet were like
those for a family member, field observations that confirmed
or disconfirmed this type of attachment were examined. In
addition, the data for other participants were reviewed to
determine similarities in level of attachment.
Affective Domain:
5
.
Can you tell me any stories that would give me insight
into the meaning your pet has for you?
What feelings do you associate with your pet?
Has the meaning of pet ownership changed from
when you were younger?
6
7
.
.
Physical/Health Domain:
8
.
How has pet ownership contributed to your
health/well-being?
9
1
.
How does having a pet affect your level of activity?
0. Has your health ever affected your interactions with
your pet?
study interviews and observations; routines, physical
demands, and affective factors related to pet ownership.The
format for the interviews and observations used a general
interview guide approach. Patton (1990) notes that this tech-
nique “… involves outlining a set of issues that are to be
explored with each respondent before the interviewing
begins.The issue in the outline need not be taken in any par-
ticular order and the actual wording of the questions to elic-
it responses about those issues are not determined in
advance”(p.280).In this study,the exact wording of the inter-
view questions or types of observations varied dependent
upon the interviewee.Open-ended probes were used to clar-
ify and expand upon responses. An open-ended probe elicits
additional information from a previous question. It does not
restrict a participant ’s reply to a predetermined answer (Polit
274
The comprehensiveness of the coded units (Gilner,
1994) was cross-checked through an interview with the
Director of PAWS/LA. The Director is considered to be an
authority on the issues surrounding pet ownership that con-
front this population. An in-depth interview was conducted
using the same interview format incorporated in the data
collection of the study participants. However, the Director of
PAWS/LA was asked to answer the questions after consider-
ing the experiences of those that have participated in the
organization. No information about the study findings were
discussed so as not to bias the informant ’s responses. The
coded units generated by the data collected from the
Director of PAWS/LA were similar to those derived from the
study participants and included no points of view not
&
Hungler, 1995). A sample of the interview probes used for
each of the three key issues is illustrated on Table 1.
All participants were contacted by phone by a graduate
field researcher. Interview sites, determined by the partici-
pants, included rented apartments, private homes, offices,
and a riding stable. The interviews lasted an average of one
and one half hours and were audiotaped.
Field observations of naturally occurring interactions
between the participants and their pets were also conducted
at six out of seven sites.The field observations provided addi-
tional information regarding how the pet owner ’s environ-
ment was structured to incorporate their pet. Five observa-
tions took place in participants’homes and the other in a rid-
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Table 2
Experience of pet ownership for participants with HIV or AIDS
Response not influenced by illness
Response influenced by illness
Emotional component
Emotional component
•
•
•
Emotional bonding
Sense of reciprocity of attachment
Pet part of social world˙
•
•
•
Relationship with pet unaffected by illness
Incentive to persevere
Buffer from social stigma, social isolation
Daily Routines and Responsibilities
Daily Routines and Responsibilities
•
•
•
Structures daily routines
Creates demand for activity
Financial component
•
•
•
Structure/financial incentive can motivate to persevere
Long term planning more complex
Needs of pet can compromise health
already identified by the study participants. This indicated
that the responses of the small sample of participants used in
the study appeared to be consistent with the responses of
other pet owners with HIV or AIDS, as described by an
authority on the topic.
may be typical of any pet owner. For example, all participants
noted an attachment to their pet that they described as love.
Field notes depicted the owners kissing, hugging, holding,
playing and feeding the pets. One owner draped his cat
around his neck like a scarf and explained that this was the
cat ’s favorite position.
The design of this study primarily used triangulation to
ensure rigor in the data collection, analysis, and results.
Triangulation is“the use of multiple methods or perspectives
to collect and interpret data about some phenomenon, to
converge on an accurate representation of reality” (Polit &
Hungler, 1995, p. 655). Triangulation of data was accom-
plished through the use of both interviews and field obser-
vations.Triangulation of investigators was established by the
use of multiple field investigators for data gathering, coding,
and analysis.
All pet owners also referred to their pets as companions.
One informant, grieving the loss of a pet, stated, “He was
more than just an animal, more than just a pet, he was my
friend ”. Another person attributed human characteristics to
his pet:
They are great companions and they give you a lot of love.
They don’t argue with you.They are very sensible in the fact
that they intuitively are able to know whether somebody is
feeling good or bad. And, they do their best to comfort in
their own ways which is a wonderful thing....Everybody has
some form of partner, some relationship. [The pet] could
possibly be the best relationship you will ever have in your
life.
Results
The experience of pet ownership appeared to have two pri-
mary dimensions. One dimension could be described as an
experience of pet ownership not influenced by health status.
Thus, this dimension appeared to represent that of any pet
owner, regardless of health status.The second perspective of
pet ownership appeared directly related and influenced by
their health status. Therefore, the findings suggest that the
experience of pet ownership for the study participants is
both typical of what one might expect from any pet owner
and uniquely influenced by the course of the HIV or AIDS ill-
ness.The results can be conceptualized as a matrix, depicted
in Table 2.
275
Six of the seven pet owners likened the emotional bond
with their pet as similar to that of family members,remarking,
“Oh, they are my babies; they are like my kids” or “I can’t live
without Zeus. He is my life. He is my child. He is everything to
me. I love my bird ”. For these participants pets appeared to
provide unconditional love. An informant explained,“... if you
are feeling great, then they [pets] are loving you great. And, if
you are feeling bad then they are loving you to make you feel
better. It is total unconditional.” Most described a reciproca-
tion of unconditional love. One interviewee summarized, “I
can’t imagine loving another creature as much...and having
and feeling it so reciprocal...”.
Emotional component of pet ownership
Throughout all interviews and field notes one paramount,
consistent theme was the emotional component of pet own-
ership. The emotional bond described by the participants
appeared to be largely unaffected by their disease and ill-
ness. This indicates that this component of pet ownership
One of the seven participants described his attachment
to his dog differently, describing a more moderate emotional
bond when he stated, “Oh, I love him but not to the point
where I would do anything in the world for him. I’ve seen
some people just go crazy over their pets and I don’t feel that
way”.
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While the attachment of all participants appeared to
have dimensions that could be typical of any pet owner, the
emotional dimension of pet ownership for these participants
also seemed directly linked to their medical condition. Many
discussed what they believed was a strong relationship
between emotional well-being and physical health. For
example, one informant reflected,“I think that my cats are as
much a part of my longevity and my well-being and my
health as any doctor or medicine ”. Similarly, another intervie-
wee explained,“[If] we don’t get love from whoever or what-
ever... then we become depressed. And we become non-
motivated to be healthy ”. One pet owner characterized his
pets as an emotional buffer against his disease and health
care process. He noted,“...they keep me from getting sucked
into the whirlpool of the health care, and the grief, and all
that other stuff”.
great deal of time alone. Therefore, he depended on his bird
to keep him company. Another participant appreciated the
pet for “good companionship ”, commenting,“It ’s kind of nice
to have a pet if you don’t have someone.You can talk to them
without people thinking you are crazy ”. The emotional
attachment between pet and owner appeared to serve as a
buffer from social isolation. However, the data does not dis-
tinguish if the feeling of social isolation was related to the
participants’illness experience or was a response that any pet
owner would have regardless of their health status.
Daily routines and responsibilities
Pet ownership impacted the daily routines for all of these
participants in ways that seemed unaffected by their illness,
and typical of what many pet owners may experience. All
interviewees expressed a sense of responsibility for their
pets, which contributed to the structure of everyday life. One
interviewee commented, “It ’s a routine before I go to work.
The first thing I do is take care of the animals ”. Another partic-
ipant described his cat ’s daily routine which included watch-
ing a video of“Kitty Safari”on television.In addition,pet own-
ership played a role in the long term planning of events. One
interviewee, who lives alone, remarked, “I make it a point
never to be gone more than 24 hours. Never, not even 24
hours.... If he ’s not fed on time that ’s when he gets restless ”.
All interviewees incorporated pet maintenance into
daily routines.For example,“...caring for them,brushing them,
getting them to the vet ’s , getting them their shots. I mean,
making sure that your animals are well taken care of,well fed,
groomed, and healthy is a big responsibility. It ’s an occupa-
tion... ”. The responsibility of pet ownership also contributed
to financial decisions that influenced everyday life. For some
this included securing accommodations that incorporated
pets, such as stables for horses.
The unbiased affection attributed to their pets seemed
particularly meaningful for this group of interviewees. One
participant explained,
...there ’s something comfortable about knowing that they
[pets] don’t know about dying. They don’t know about
AIDS...they’re the only ones that don’t worry about me,
because all they expect is that I’m going to be here...it’s
refreshing to not have to explain those things because I
spend a lot of my time explaining that stuff to people...
In addition, all of these participants had contact with others
who were HIV positive or had AIDS, and most had known
someone who had died of the disease. The consistency of
emotional bond between owner and pet was particularly
meaningful for these participants. An interviewee stated,
Just a month ago, I had another friend die...I had been
through this before, all the times that I had held people
when they died...It was overwhelming and to be able to
come home and laugh with these guys [cats].What would
I do without them?
276
The daily maintenance associated with pet ownership
served as an impetus for physical exercise for some.Examples
of activity included daily walks, grooming, visits to veterinari-
ans, and social events with other pet owners. For most this
was a positive experience, as one interviewee ’s comments
illustrated,
Love for their pets prompted many of these participants to
adjust their daily routines to accommodate the care and
maintenance of the animal.The emotional bond with the ani-
mal provided incentive to persevere in the face of illness.One
participant ’s comments illustrated this point.
At moments that I have been really, really low, these cats
have kept me alive....No matter how upset or depressed or
screwed up my emotions may have gotten I always knew
that I had these two little creatures that needed be fed,that
needed to be taken care of, that I had to get out of bed to
make sure that they were taken care of.
I would not be the person I am today were it not for owning
animals.I mean I’m active physically.I just turned 47.I prob-
ably do more now physically than I’ve ever done. I don’t
have to go to a gym.
The responsibility of pet ownership and the correspond-
ing impact of one ’s daily routine also appeared influenced by
the HIV or AIDS illness for all of the participants.For some,the
financial dependency of their pets became a reason to care
for themselves and ensure that they had a safe environment
for their pet to live in. For example, one informant noted,
He keeps me from giving up.I look at him and I realize that
I have to pay the bills and I’ve got to keep a roof over our
Although Leary and Schreindorfer (1998) discussed the
stigmatization of those with HIV or AIDS, none of the partici-
pants in this study mentioned this as an issue in their lives.
However, six out of seven interviewees raised the notion of
social isolation.A few participants suggested that single peo-
ple should own a pet to prevent loneliness. One individual
explained that before he met his current partner, he spent a
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Allen et al.
heads. He keeps me going because I can’t be on the streets
with a parrot on my shoulder.
contributed to the health and well being of these partici-
pants in tangible ways.
However,other pet owners noted the toll that increased exer-
cise could play on already decreased endurance and
strength. The health precautions necessary for those with
compromised immune systems made some facets of pet
ownership more problematic.One participant discussed con-
cern regarding the exposure to the sun incurred when walk-
ing his dog.He noted,“...with HIV it ’s not good to be out in the
sun ”. Two other participants discussed AIDS related diseases
that can be contracted with exposure to animal feces. This
concern was echoed by staff at PAWS/LA who advise their
clients to clean out their cats’ litter boxes daily and to take
Previous quantitative studies (Friedman, et al,1980;
Dembicki & Anderson,1996; Muschel,1984) found that the
occupation of pet ownership contributed to the structure of
daily routines, increased physical and social activity levels,
and decreased depressive symptoms in individuals diag-
nosed with a range of health and psychological diagnoses.
This study suggests that past research findings also appear
applicable to individuals with HIV and AIDS. For the most
part, the everyday activities associated with pet ownership
for these participants provided ongoing opportunities for
health promoting behaviour, such as increased physical
activity. However, this was not always the case. For some, pet
ownership also increased the risk factors associated with HIV
and AIDS including increased sun exposure and exposure to
toxoplasmosis. For these individuals, protective measures
were necessary to provide for the ongoing needs of the pet
while minimizing the risk to the pet owner.
“appropriate precautions” to avoid contracting toxoplasmo-
sis, which is a disease dangerous to people with compro-
mised immune systems.
Although all pet owners can be faced with the need for
long term planning for the care of their pets, consistently the
interviewees noted provisions for care in the event of illness.
The needs for pet care and support could vary greatly during
any given time due to fluctuations in the individual ’s health
status. In some cases long term care planning was made in
speculation to one ’s own death. For example, a 32-year old
interviewee reported,“ Sadly, I have had to make some deci-
sions about what is going to be done with him in the event
of my death. My friend Tony is going to raise him”.
Because of the small number of participants, this study
should be viewed as a catalyst for more extensive research on
the meaning of pet ownership and its utilization in occupa-
tional therapy practice with the HIV and AIDS populations.
With a larger sample size, one could be better assured that
data saturation would be obtained to support the findings.
Also, all study participants were male, thus it is unknown
whether or not gender played a role in the experience of pet
ownership with this population. All of these participants
were still able to independently care for their pets.While one
can hypothesize that these individuals would seek to care for
their pets as long as they are capable, this study does not
address the experience of pet ownership on individuals with
AIDS who are unable to care independently for the animals.
In addition, one most important limitation to this study
regards the notion of meaningful occupation. The partici-
pants of this study valued the occupation of pet ownership,
thus one could propose that these results describe the expe-
rience of a meaningful occupation. Yerxa (1998, 1993) pro-
poses that engagement in meaningful occupation can have
a corresponding influence on health, as was the case for
these men with HIV or AIDS.It is not know whether or not the
findings would be similar for those less committed to their
animals.
Discussion
The qualitative methodology of this study contributed infor-
mation about the meaning of pet ownership in the everyday
lives of individuals with HIV or AIDS, thus expanding upon
previous findings that used quantitative measures. The
results of this study indicated two dimensions of pet owner-
ship; 1) emotional attachment and 2) the structure of daily
routines and responsibilities. In many ways the attachment
participants noted for their pets may be similar for many pet
owners regardless of disability status.However,for these indi-
viduals, the experience of pet ownership also appeared to be
impacted by their illness experience. For example, partici-
pants stated that the need to care for their pets was motiva-
tion to persevere when depressed or ill. In addition, the emo-
tional bond with the pet appeared to comfort the owner
when grieving over loss associated with their illness. In some
ways, the attachment to the pet could be described as a cop-
ing strategy used to combat depression, social isolation, stig-
ma, and grief associated with the HIV or AIDS illness. For
some, the very act of caring for the pet appeared to provide
an indication of their own health status. While a participant
was able to care for his pets, he could view himself as more
physically and emotionally capable. Overall, one consistent
finding of this study was that pet ownership can be a mean-
ingful occupation. As a valued occupation, pet ownership
277
Conclusion
The study results have implications for occupational therapy
practice. Using the Canadian Model of Occupational
Performance (CAOT, 1997) as an illustrative model, a compre-
hensive approach to occupational therapy services uses a
client-centered approach and seeks to enable occupation for
all persons.“Enabling occupations means collaborating with
people to choose, organize, and perform occupations which
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Allen et al.
people find useful or meaningful in a given environment”
Friedmann, E., Katcher, A.H., Lynch, J.J., & Thomas, S.A. (1980). Animal
companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge
from a coronary care unit. Public Health Report, 307-312.
(CAOT, 1997, p. 30). As occupational therapists address the
needs of individuals with chronic illness such as HIV or AIDS,
intervention incorporating pet ownership may be a success-
ful avenue for enabling meaningful occupation. For those
who value pet ownership as an occupation, intervention that
incorporates the client ’s animals might enable occupation in
both physical and affective domains, including motivation
and satisfaction.As an example,dog grooming could be used
to counteract depression and promote physical activity for
those with limited daily activities.
Gammage, S.L., McMahon, P.S,. & Shanahan, P.M. (1976). The occupa-
tional therapist and terminal illness: Learning to cope with
death. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 30, 294-299.
Gilner, J.A. (1994). Reviewing qualitative research: Proposed criteria
for fairness and rigor. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research,
14, 78-90.
Hoffman, R.G. (1992). Companion animals: A therapeutic measure for
elderly patients. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 18, 195-
205.
In summary, this research, although preliminary, indi-
cates that a careful examination of the experience of an occu-
pation, such as pet ownership, can assist occupational thera-
pists in understanding the meaning of the occupation in the
everyday life of their clients.This in turn, can be an important
first step to planning effective intervention.
Leary, M.R. & Schreindorfer, L.S. (1998). The stigmatization of HIV and
AIDS. In V.J. Derlega, & A.P. Barbee, (Eds.). HIV and social interac-
tion (pp. 12-29).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lofland, J. & Lofland, L.H. (1995). Analyzing Social Settings (3rd ed.).
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Muschel, I.J. (1984). Pet therapy with terminal cancer patients. Social
Casework:The Journal of Contemporary SocialWork,65, 451-458.
Netting, F.E.,Wilson, C.C., & New, J.C. (1987).The human-animal bond:
Implications for practice. Social Work, 32, 60-64.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Shannon Fryer Holmes, Harpreet
Kandpur, Tiffany Kelley Sampson, Bonnie Baker Scudder, and
Lisa Serby for their assistance with data collection and earlier
drafts of this study. We also appreciate the staff of PAWS/LA
and the participants who gave generously of their time.
Patton,M.Q.(1990).Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods (2nd
Ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
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Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen.
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